Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U

Evolution Unit

Evolution Unit Assignment : New Specie

Scenario

As an expert biologist working for National Geographic, you have been selected by your editor
for a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel 3 million years into the future to document the
evolution of an animal of your choice. Based on the data and observations you collect, you will
have to submit an evolutionary article to the editor. Your story must include the
a) environmental conditions of the time period,
b) Appearance or characteristics
c) lifestyle /behavior

The links below are samples of evolutionary articles:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/04/new-species-ancient-human-discovered-
luzon-philippines-homo-luzonensis/

https://www.livescience.com/65477-flightless-bird-evolves-twice.html
Take note of how the articles are written and you can model your own article from it.

PART 1: Selection of Present Animal ( Create A Copy of This Assignment and Post on
Schoology together with your article)
Choose an animal from the present. Research on your chosen animal and complete the
following tables to organize your data.

Where does it live/Habitat: in the Eastern Himalayas in places like China, Nepal, and
Bhutan _______________________________________________________

Characteristics of Zoogeographical Area

Temperature: average temperature
between 10 and 25 °C (50 and 77 °F)
with little annual change.
Climate Humidity: hot and wet all year round,
with no dry season in the foothills
(temperature, humidity, precipitation, etc.) Precipitation: average annual rainfall is
10,000 mm (390 inches)
Height: between 2,200 and 4,800 m
(7,200 and 15,700 ft)

Characteristics of Plant Life Number: A total of 333 plant species

(height, leaf size, colour, etc.)
belonging to 128 plant families with an
average of 78 species per home garden
were recorded.
Size: range between 0.10 and 0.60 ha
and showed significant (P<0.001)
positive correlation between the garden

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Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U
Evolution Unit

size and plant species diversity.

Characteristics of all animal life in this Animals:
habitat. Pick 3 animals also found in this
habitat to study in detail. 1.Snow leopard

(diet, anatomical features, size, etc.)

2.Indian rhinoceros

3.Himalayan black bear

-Many animals in the Eastern

Himalayas are endangered or critically
endangered. Three major river basins of
Nepal, namely the Ghaghara, Gandaki
River and Koshi River basins, feature
dense forests and provide habitat
for butterfly species and 8% of the
world's bird species.
-In addition, the area has many
ecological projects intended to ensure

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Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U
Evolution Unit

the survival and growth of many

species.

Animal: Red panda

______________________________________________________________________

Characteristics of Animal Student Observations

Head and Body Length: 50 - 60 cm

Tail Length: 30 - 50 cm

Weight: 3 – 5 kg

Body: -Covered with rusty red fur

that is long and coarse, with an
undercoat that is soft, dense, and
Physical woolly.
-Similar to a raccoon with a
(size, feet, location of eyes and ears, body covering, short, white muzzle and long white
teeth, tail, etc.) whiskers, dark circles or patches
around its eyes, and erect pointed
ears with white edges. The red
panda's front legs are angled inward,
which causes it to waddle when it
walks.

Colour: the back of the ears, the

limbs and the underparts are dark
reddish brown to black

Behavioural

(lives in isolation or in groups, passive or

aggressive, nocturnal or diurnal, reproductive
strategies, etc.)

Ecological Role

(diet, predator or prey, role in food web)

Adaptations

(camouflage, mimicry, structural, physiological, etc.)

Other

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Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U
Evolution Unit

PART 2: Observations of your animal in the future

Congratulations!!! You have arrived 3 million years in the future. Complete the following:
Where does it live? (Habitat)
_________________________________________________________

Characteristics of Zoogeographical Area

Climate
(temperature, humidity, precipitation, etc.)
Characteristics of Plant Life
(height, leaf size, colour, etc.)
Characteristics of all animal life in this
habitat. Pick 3 animals also found in this
habitat to study in detail.
(diet, anatomical features, size, etc.)

Animal: Give it a name

______________________________________________________________________

Characteristics of Animal Student Observations

Physical
(size, feet, location of eyes and ears, body
covering, teeth, tail, etc.)
Behavioural
(lives in isolation or in groups, passive or
aggressive, nocturnal or diurnal, reproductive
strategies, etc.)
Ecological Role
(diet, predator or prey, role in food web)
Adaptations
(camouflage, mimicry, structural, physiological,
etc.)
Other

Drawing:

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Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U
Evolution Unit

NOTE: Keep in mind that your descriptions (animal’s appearance, behaviour and ecological
role) must be based on aspects of natural selection.

PART 3: Evolutionary Article:

Your article must satisfy the following criteria:

1. 300-750 words in length( about 2 pages ) (Times New Roman, Font Size 12, Double-
spaced)
2. Include all characteristics and conditions in the present and in the future.
3. Incorporate at least 2 conditions that could relate to your animal’s evolution.
4. Graphics and illustrations( timeline, picture of present animal and drawing of habitat
should be included.
5. Make sure to cite all external sources used.

Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment:

Check Point #1 Check Point #2

Student Name Present Animal Tables Future Animal Tables

√ √

Comments:

________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U
Evolution Unit

Performance Criteria Marks

Support for Topic (K/U) (10) (12-13) (14-15) (16-20)
[20 marks]- 30% Student does not Student supports Student gives Student enhances
⋅ provides details to support main information with support for all viewpoints
support ideas ideas. explanations. information with through detailed
⋅ - factor that caused good detail. and clear
evolution explanations.
⋅ -evolution
Logical Sequence (C) (5) Student puts (6) (7) (8-10)
[10 marks] information, with Student shows Student work is Student enhances
⋅ a logical flow is shown prompting, into structured easy to understand all viewpoints
throughout the article sequence. approach to flow of and written in a through detailed
topic. clear sequence. and clear
explanations.
Grammar (C) (5) (6) (7) (8-10)
[10 marks] Student leaves Student leaves Student finds and Student leaves no
⋅ finds and fixes serious errors in some serious fixes most errors in errors in final
mechanical and final report. errors in final final report. report.
grammatical errors in report.
final report

Reference Material (C) (5) (6) (7) (8-10)

[10 marks] Student needs Student uses Student uses Student refers to
⋅ uses multiple and help using materials, but materials with materials
reliable sources with materials. needs help with proper citations. throughout the
proper citations citations. project, and uses
full citations.
Zoo Observations (T/I) (9 and below) (10-11) (12-13) (14-15)
[15 marks] Observations are Observations are Observations are Observations
⋅ detailed observations are incomplete or lack somewhat detailed and exceed
made detail. complete and complete. expectations.
⋅ - incorporated in article attempts at
including detail are
made.
Future Observations (7.5 below (8-9) (10-11) (12-15)
(T/I) Observations are Observations are Observations are Observations
[15 marks] incomplete or lack somewhat detailed and exceed
⋅ detailed observations are detail. complete and complete. expectations.
made attempts at

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 Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U
Evolution Unit

⋅ Incorporated in article including detail are

made.
Concept Connections (10 below) (11-12) (13-17) (18-20)
(A) Student has Student has Student has Student has
[20 marks] incorporated one incorporated two incorporated three incorporated more
⋅ concepts are concept in article. concepts in article. concepts in article. than three concepts
incorporated and in article.
connections are
explained Fails to explain Made attempts to Explains concepts Explains all
appropriately concept in relation explain concepts in in relation to concepts in relation
⋅ -connections between to animal’s relation to animal’s animal’s evolution. to animal’s
present and future evolution. evolution. evolution in an
organism exceptional
manner.

Knowledge and Thinking Communication Application

Understanding 30% 30% 20%
30%

/20 /30 /30 /20

Total:100

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Name:__Nguyen Le Hoang_____________________ Course: SBI3U
Evolution Unit